Weather denies Flintoff

ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff got some much-needed practice for his county yesterday, before rain again hit the match between Hampshire and Lancashire at the Rose Bowl. The whole of the first day was washed out and only 18 overs were possible when play finally got under way, after Shane Warne won the toss.

ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (pictured) got some much-needed practice for his county yesterday, before rain again hit the LV County Championship match between Hampshire and Lancashire at the Rose Bowl.

The whole of the first day was washed out and only 18 overs were possible when play finally got under way, after Shane Warne won the toss.

Warne decided Lancashire should bat first on a wicket offering plenty of early movement - and the visitors found this out to their cost as they slumped to 31 for four.

Hampshire pace bowler James Bruce took two early wickets and Warne's Australian compatriot Stuart Clark followed up with two more.

Bruce struck first when he had Paul Horton snapped up by Michael Brown to make Lancashire six for one and that worsened when opening partner Mark Chilton followed soon afterwards.

Chilton had taken the score to 21 when he attempted to pull a shorter delivery from Bruce and wicketkeeper Nic Pothas completed the catch.

Backward point

Mal Loye was the third to go at 28 when he drove at a wide delivery from Clark and Chris Benham held the catch at backward point.

Lancashire's early misery was completed when Brad Hodge edged Clark to first slip, where Michael Lumb clutched a waist-high catch.

This brought in Flintoff to join experienced Stuart Law as Lancashire attempted to fight back in murky conditions.

When drizzle and then heavier rain brought a premature end to the day's proceedings after 18 overs and 56 runs, Law and Flintoff had struggled to stay in.

The normally prolific Law took 75 minutes to score an unbeaten six while Flintoff's 15 not out came off 25 balls and included two boundaries.

When umpires Allan Jones and Nigel Llong called a halt after the tea interval, Clark had taken two wickets for 24 runs and Bruce two for 21.

With two days remaining and more bad weather forecast, it looks increasingly unlikely there will be an outright winner unless the captains are prepared to take a chance with declarations.